Big Ten vs NC P5’s, G5’s, & FCS

The B-10 plays 9 conference games and 3 NC games to reach its maximum allotment of 12 games (unless you play Hawai’i, @ Aloha Stadium, then you can schedule a 13th game to offset travel costs). The B-10, once going to the 9th conference game were directed by their Commissioner, Jim Delany, to avoid scheduling Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) who are limited to 63 scholarships vs the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), who can award 85 scholarships! He then asked B-10 teams to schedule at least 1, Non-Conference (NC) Power 5 (P5) or more and 1 or 2 Group of 5 (G5) teams per season … let’s see how well the universities complied?

B-10 East!

1. Indiana plays 1 P5, Virginia, out of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), @ home, in Memorial Stadium & 2 G5’s, Florida International  Conference – USA (C-USA) in Miami, Fl and Ball State Mid-American Conference (MAC) @ home! The Hoosiers do not play a FCS opponent in 2018!
2. Maryland takes on Texas, a P5 team from the Big-12, @ home in Maryland Stadium and then plays 2 G5’s, Bowling Green (MAC), on the road and then returns home to battle Temple, an American Athletic Conference (AAC) team! The Terrapins do not play an FCS team in the coming season!
3. Michigan travels to South Bend (Please note; on Sully’s College Football Page (SCFP) we treat ND & BYU as Power 5 Teams) to avenge their 31-0 pounding by the Irish in 2014 and then host 2 G5’s, Western Michigan (MAC) and SMU (AAC) in the Big House! The Wolverines do not play a FCS team!
4. Michigan State ‘laces em up’ against 1 P5, Arizona State (PAC-12) in Sun Devil Stadium and 2 G5’s, Utah State, Mountain West Conference (MWC) and Central Michigan (MAC) both games will be played in Spartan Stadium! The Spartans do not play an FCS opponent!
5. Ohio State breaks the norm by taking on 2 P5’s, Oregon State (PAC-12) @ the ‘Shoe’ and TCU (Big 12), at a neutral site, Arlington Texas. The Bucks will play 1 G5 in 2018, Tulane (AAC) in Ohio Stadium! OSU does not play an FCS squad in 2018!
6. Penn State lines up against in state rival, Pittsburgh, a P5 team from the ACC,  @ Heinz Field, Pitts home turf! The Lions also play 2 G5 in NC tilts, taking on Appalachian State, Sun Belt Conference (SBC) and Kent State (MAC), both of these game will be played @ Beaver Stadium, in State College, PA! PSU does not play a FCS opponent!
7. Rutgers travels to Lawrence, Kansas,, in week three, to meet the Jayhawks @ Memorial Field. Kansas is a P5 program and member of the B-12 Conference! The Scarlet Knights play 2 G5 teams, Texas State (SBC) and Buffalo (MAC), both of the games are in New Brunswick, NJ @ High Point Solutions Stadium. The Knights do not play a FCS team in 2018!

The East Division of the Big Ten plays 8 P5 opponents (2 ACC, 3 B-12, 1 IND, 2 PAC 12), 13 G5 teams (3 AAC, 1 C-USA, 6 MAC, 1 MWC, & 2 SBC), & 0 FCS Opponents

B-10 West!

1. Illinois does not play against a P5 opponent in 2018, they do compete against 2 G5’s, Kent State (MAC) & South Florida (AAC). The Illini do play a FCS squad, Western Illinois, a Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) team, in week two! All three of these NC games are in Urbana-Champaign, IL, at Memorial Stadium!
2. Iowa will ‘kick it off’ against in-state rival, Iowa State, a P5 team from the B-12!  They also line up against 1 G5 team, Northern Illinois (MAC) and one FCS club, Northern Iowa (MVFC). All 3 NC games are in Iowa City, at Kinnick Stadium!
3. Minnesota, like the Illini, do not play a P5 team in their NC schedule in 2018! They do play against 3 G5 opponents; New Mexico State (IND), Fresno State (MWC) & Miami OH (MAC). The 3 games will be played in Minneapolis MN @ TCF Bank Stadium! The Gophers do not play a FCS team!
4. Nebraska welcomes one P5 NC opponent, Colorado, to Lincoln in 18′! Colorado is an old Big 12 opponent of the Huskers, when both teams were in that league, the Buffs are mow members of the PAC 12! The Cornhuskers play 2 G5’s, Akron (MAC) and Troy (SBC). All three games are @ Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium!
5. Northwestern steps up and plays 2 P5 opponents! Duke (ACC) and ND (IND), both of the games are in Evanston, IL  at Ryan Field! The Cats challenge 1 G5 team, Akron (MAC), this contest is also @ Ryan Field!
6. Purdue, like Northwestern, will take on 2 P5 teams, Missouri (SEC) & Boston College (ACC)! Both NC games are in West Lafayette, @ Ross-Ade Stadium! The Boilermakers are scheduled to play one G5 opponent, Eastern Michigan, also at Ross-Ade Stadium!
7. Wisconsin plays 1 P5, BYU in Madison, @ Camp Randall in week 3 and 2 G5’s Western Kentucky (C-USA) & New Mexico (MWC) also played at Camp Randal! The Badgers do not play a FCS opponent in 18′! While UW’s NC slate is relatively easy, their Big 10 schedule is difficult, all 5 road games are against teams that had winning records a year ago (Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State, & Purdue)!

The West Division of the Big Ten plays 7 P5 opponents (2 ACC, 1 B-12, 2 IND, 1 PAC 12, & 1 SEC), 12 G5 teams ( 1 AAC,  1 C-USA, 1 IND 6 MAC, 2 MWC, & 1 SBC), 2 FCS teams (2 MVFC)

Big Ten plays 15 P5’s, 25 G5’s, & 2 FCS in the 2018 season!